Impolite term used in English-speaking countries, to designate a member of the Catholic Church. Its origin can be traced to the Reformation, where it was first used to distinguish a Roman Catholic who believed in the supremacy of the Pope, from an Anglican who believed in the supremacy of the king. Papistry, papistic, and papistical are terms which are met with in English literature, all of impolite usage.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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